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Evidence-based vaccination information for your family.
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Diseases & Vaccines
Recommended adolescent vaccines (by 11-15 yrs of age)
SCHOOL BASED VACCINE PROGRAMS
School based programs offer free vaccines to students.
Current programs
Summary of school based programs
Current Year 7 program for NSW
Hepatitis B, Boostrix ( dTpa) booster for diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), Varicella (chicken pox) for those that have not previously received varicella vaccine or had a history of varicella infection, Gardasil (HPV vaccine) for females.
Current Year 10 program
Boostrix (dTpa) booster for diptheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough)
Hepatitis B vaccination
This vaccine was introduced into the childhood immunisation schedule in 2000 for babies and adolescents. The adolescent dose is part of school based vaccination programs, which vary from state to state. In NSW, the vaccine has been offered annually to children in Year 7 since 2004.
Adolescents who miss out on vaccination at school can receive free vaccine from their GP. The school based program will continue until the babies born from 2000 onwards who receive hepatitis B as part of the childhood schedule (at birth, 2, 4 & 6 months) reach Year 7.
Meningococcal C vaccination
This vaccine became part of the childhood immunisation schedule at 12 months in 2003. only 1 dose is required for protection. Children from kindergarten to year 12 were offered meningococcal C vaccination in 2003-2004. GPs can continue to provide free vaccine to those aged 1 to 25 years who have not received a vaccination.
Those 25 years and older will have to pay for vaccine.
Even if your child has been vaccinated against the meningococcal C strain, it is important to remain alert for symptoms of other strains of meningococcal disease
Boostrix (dTpa - diphtheria, tetanus & pertussis)
This vaccine provides a booster dose for these three diseases.
State and school based programs vary. In NSW, children in Years 7-12 were offered Boostrix in 2004-2005 to provide protection to adolescents from pertussis (whooping cough). In 2009 year 10 children are offered Boostrix
Adolescents who have missed the school based program are eligible for free vaccine at their GP.
| Vaccine | Number of Doses |
| Combined diphtheria, tetanus & pertussis (whooping cough) | 4/5 as a child Booster as an adolescent |
| Polio | 4 as a child |
| Hepatitis B (hep B) | 3 from GP/immunisation provider as a child 2 from adolescent school based program |
| MMR (measles, mumps,rubella/german measles) | 2 |
| Meningococcal C | 1 |
| Varicella (chicken pox) | (if no clinical history of disease) 1 for under 13 years 2 for 14 years and over |
Varilrix (chicken pox)
This vaccine was introduced to the childhood immunisation schedule in November 2005. A school based vaccination program started in 2006 for children in Year 7 who have not contracted the disease or have not previously been vaccinated.
HPV vaccine
The human papilloma virus (HPV) types 16 and 18 cause about 70% of cervical cancers. HPV types 6 and 11 cause about 90% of genital warts.
Vaccines against these HPV types are now available with the potential to prevent the majority of these conditions.
The vaccine is indicated in females aged 9 to 26 years.
The continuation of Pap screening is recommended.
Measles
During the Measles Campaign run in 1998, all school aged children where offered a second dose of MMR vaccine (this vaccine is now included in the childhood schedule at 4 years). Adults born during or since 1966 should have evidence of having received two doses of MMR. Those born between 1966 and 1980 are unlikely to have received two doses of measles containing vaccine and therefore may remain nonimmune.
The MMR vaccine is free for this age group.
Summary NSW school based programs
1998- MMR vaccination compaign for all school children; offering second dose
2003- Meningococcal C vaccination program for all school children
2004- Diphtheria,Tetanus & pertussis (boostrix) offered to year 10 to Year 12 students
- Hep B offered Year 7 students.
2005- Diphtheria,Tetanus & pertussis (boostrix) offered to year 7 to Year 10 students
- Hep B offered to Year 7 students
2006- Year 7 offered Hep B and Varicella
2007- Year 7 offered Hep B and Varicella
- Females Years 10-12 offered HPV vaccination
2008- Year 7 offered Hep B and Varicella
- Females Years 7-10 offered HPV vaccination
2009- Year 7 offered Hep B, Varicella, females only HPV
- Year 10 offered dTpa
2010- Year 7 offered Hep B, Varicella, females only HPV
- Year 10 offered dTpa
